ESPN to launch SEC Network live from Columbia

ESPN will launch the SEC Network live Aug. 14, from the University of South Carolina My Carolina Alumni Association Fall Sports Preview Party, the university said Thursday.

The event will take place at Seawell's on Rosewood Drive in Columbia and feature head football coach Steve Spurrier and coaches from other Gamecock fall sports.

The SEC broadcast from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. will include live reports from each school in the Southeastern Conference, the university said.

South Carolina's portion will feature live video reports from the My Carolina Fall Sports Preview Party, including an exclusive interview with Coach Spurrier from the event.

"The University of South Carolina has made a seven-figure investment to get the SEC Network production unit off the ground on campus," said Charles Bloom, senior associate athletics director of external affairs. "We're definitely going to be in the top quarter of the SEC in terms of the commitment we make. Coach [Athletics Director Ray] Tanner has made the commitment and wants us to do as many of the events as we can and have them done well."

The network is a collaboration between the conference and ESPN, which will provide SEC content all day every day, and will include all 21 of the league's sports.